Photographer's Note

Today I am digging into my before DRSL days. After many years with no great photographic interest or activity, the bug bit. This shot, taken on an HP point and click, in B&W, was the beginning of a journey resumed. I love this shot, the quality is poor and I wish I could re-shoot it but it was a turning point for me and a special moment.

I loved the strong sunlight and shadows in the interior of Angkor Wat and had been taking snaps of the play of light and shade. Turned a corner and saw this man sweeping. Perfect moment!

Now I'm looking for advice. I would like to invest in a good quality compact camera. Too many photo opportunities are lost because of the full frame I have to lug about. I would like something for street scenes and those situations where speed and decisiveness are essential. Can anyone recommend something with a good sensor, very good lens quality (can be a fixed zoom or interchangeable lenses) , the ability to shoot in RAW and with the ability to set shutter speed, aperture, full manual or auto. I love my Nikon but I want something to carry in my handbag or pocket!

the sharpness is not the one of a numeric camera, but I find your shot really interesting, with the dust lighted by the sun ray and the zen way of the man. Nice perspective leading to him, a soft B&W picture
No advice for compact camera!
regards
CLODO

This is a strong and sharp B/W photograph. The sunlight outside has been very well managed and the shafts of light that enter the narrow passage has been fantastically captured. The clarity and depth of the images, together with the strong shadows and strands of light makes this a wonderful composition.
The eroded stone columns and the raised stone at the foreground makes for a frame within the photograph.
The half-lit side view of the man sweeping the floor is excellent and captures the mood of the photograph.
Thanks for sharing this fabulous photograph.

Hi Rosemary
love this! Such a great B&W shot. Full of amazing textures and light that just makes the whole image so effective and attractive. Beautiful imagery!
I agree about lugging a DSLR around, but if I use my small compact camera I find I think - "wish I had taken this on my DSLR".

Have a great weekend - regards Brian.
PS Thanks for your comments on my website, glad you liked it. Have today changed the format a little - keep tweaking things, I am just like a big kid really! B.

Hello Rosemary,
I think this is an excellent composition and the quality is good enough for me. I like the light entering the building as thin white diagonal lines and the fine shades of various grey tones. The man is well placed to catch some of the light.
Kind regards,
Gert

Despite what you say about poor image quality, I have to disagree on that point: the quality of this picture, although taken nearly ten years ago on a small "budget" camera surpasses that of many pictures here - including many of my own! And many professional photographers would opine that image quality is not the most important feature of a photograph anyway - the composition, the lighting, the emotions which it conjures up - are all more important than sheer technical quality.

This is a very fine photograph which certainly has the most wonderful lighting - I love the beams of light streaming through the windows on the left and illuminating the dust thrown up by this man's efforts to sweep the rough floor. The textures in the stonework brought out by the oblique lighting are lovely too as is the stance of the man, cigarette in mouth, going about his task. The exposure is spot-on and the details and contrasts are excellent. The composition too is perfect.

So, Rosemary, make no apology for the technical quality of this picture - it is a wonderful photograph and I love it! And, of course,it shows that you had a very good "eye" in those days too, even though you were just beginning to catch "the bug"!

On the other matter you mention in your notes, that is something I have often thought about too. The ability to carry a small or even pocket-sized camera around and still capture events and scenes rather than having to lug around a heavy backpack would be very welcome. As the subject is a bit involved, I shall send you an email or a forum message rather than try to write a long drawn out epistle here!

Hi Rosemary,
Intriguing shot, not only for the interesting charachter, but also the beautiful play of light and shadows in the great leading tunnel. I love the grainy effect too, and the wonderful choice of B&W
Have a great weekend.
Noel

Hello Rosemary,
I do like the play of the light and shadows,a perfect subject for the mono treatment,the sweeper is perfectly placed in a sound composition,is that a touch of dust floating there? Lovely shot.
Best regards Les.

Hello Rosemary,
Without reading your note I knew instantly what you liked of this shot. The line of the window and the textures of the sunlight on the floor, the gradiations of blacks and whites, if people would first take B/W they would better see the world as it is, and then color would only fill in those empty places where lies that 18% gray of our light meters.
I too like this pic, the angle is perfect, the sunlight on the dust from the broom, and the textures, all make this a complete image.
Well done...
Steve

I find your shot really interesting, with the dust lighted What a splendid picture with a very high quality. Perfect idea note but your image will always stay in the same place and this is the adorable in photo. The picture is very clear and colored, the sharpness perfect and the place wonderful great composition Congratulations
Georgios

Hi Rosemary
Beautiful B&W for the composition and the result. I like this perspective ended by a clear view to the outside, the global atmosphere, the contrast, the drawing made by the light on the floor, the ray of light we can guess in the dust in front of the man. Well done
Regards
Bernard

As John says, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the photo. The play of light and shade is sensational and like how you've used the vertical frame to emphasise this. The B&W was an excellent choice in order to accentuate the light and shade and the wonderful textures (slight grain?) in the image. But I certainly know what you mean about wanting to re-shoot this with all the modern toys that we now have. As to your query about a good compact. I carry a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6. It's good enough, has a Leica lens and a good optical zoom. But maybe you're after something like the Nikon Coolpix that Denis (DTA) uses. In fact, the photos that he shoots are as good as any I've seen on a DSLR, but I actually put that down to the photoge=rapher rather than the camera. Or maybe a Bridge camera, that gives you the portability of a compact but almost the quality and control of a DSLR. I've looked at the G10 or the Sony rx100 which has a Carl Zeiss lens and 20MP. Anyway, I'd better go, time for a snooze after a 4 hour lunch with Dad and a bottle of vino under the belt. I hope I've made some sense.

This is an absolute beauty, Rosemary. Maybe its the grain that leads you to say the picture quality isn't up to snuff, but with that I'd have to disagree - it adds to the quality and the mood by quite a bit. And the mood is really penetrating here - solitary, quiet, and even heroic in its own private way. The light is stunning, and you've captured the sweeper at the perfect moment, about to step into it but not quite there. Framing, choice of B&W, POV... all combine to create a really touching portrait and character study. There's no better proof than this that it's not the camera but the photographer that makes beautiful images.

Hello Rosemary,
this is really beautiful and special, an ordinary scene made timeless and fascinating. I love the way the light and shadows have affected the grey tones, the perspective, the interaction of rectangural patterns and the man's placement in the scene. Congratulations and thank you!
I'm happy with my compact camera, it complies with many of the requirements you mention and I always carry it with me. I 've explored and learned to handle many of its possibilities since I won't be able to buy a more advanced camera for a long time. It's certain you will find a great range of brands and models to choose from and might end up carrying around both!
All the best, have a great week,
Ourania

Hello
looking at your shot I do not agree
that the quality is poor,it is
excellent taken in an artistic way
there is a hidden mystery
the perspective is great
shadows and lights are very
wellcomposed together
regards
Costantino

Hello Rosemary
Ohh, my favourite: monochrome! Beautiful framing for the figure, which brings life and animation to the photograph. Love the shafts of light too. Right out of the top drawer.
Regards
Will

Hello Rosemary
An excellent conversion to b&W
beautiful image of this man sweeping, together with the graphism afforded by the pillars and the repetition of lines of light on the ground
Perfect exposure
Bravo, cheers
Patrick

Hello Rosemary,
The beautiful light and grain in the picture gives this a special quality. We were in Ankor Wat three days ago but I didn't get a picture as good as this!
Kind Regards, Ann
p.s. Dave recommends the Cannon G series of compact cameras

Hi Rosemary
in all honesty Rosemary, its a winning shot!
no need to think its sub-par.
and i mean that in all honesty, i'm not just trying to be 'nice' and 'polite'
as i'm looking at the photo, its really hard to find something 'wrong' or find a way to improve upon it.
if anything, perhaps cropping a small amount off of the far left edge. thats my only thought....its really a great photo!!
the 4 open panels on the left are fantastic, as are the side lighting, and the cigarette!! :)

about the camera....I'm actually one of those guys who enjoys carrying a large backpack and gear around with me....i've gotten used to it I suppose.
SO i never really carry a pocket size camera.
I wish i could be more helpful in that regard.